Cubs MLB Roster

Cubs Organizational Depth Chart
40-Man Roster Info

40 players are on the MLB RESERVE LIST (roster is full) 

42 players are at MLB Spring Training 

31 players on MLB RESERVE LIST are ACTIVE at MLB Spring Training, and nine players are on OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT to minors. 
11 players are MLB Spring Training NON-ROSTER INVITEES (NRI) 

Last updated 3-17-2024
 
* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS: 17
Yency Almonte
Adbert Alzolay 
Javier Assad
Jose Cuas
Kyle Hendricks
* Shota Imanaga
Caleb Kilian
Mark Leiter Jr
* Luke Little
Julian Merryweather
Hector Neris 
Daniel Palencia
* Drew Smyly
* Justin Steele
Jameson Taillon
Hayden Wesneski 
* Jordan Wicks

NRI PITCHERS: 5 
Colten Brewer 
Carl Edwards Jr 
* Edwin Escobar 
* Richard Lovelady 
* Thomas Pannone 

CATCHERS: 2
Miguel Amaya
Yan Gomes

NRI CATCHERS: 2  
Jorge Alfaro 
Joe Hudson 

INFIELDERS: 7
* Michael Busch 
Nico Hoerner
Nick Madrigal
* Miles Mastrobuoni
Christopher Morel
Dansby Swanson
Patrick Wisdom

NRI INFIELDERS: 3 
David Bote 
Garrett Cooper
* Dominic Smith

OUTFIELDERS: 5
* Cody Bellinger 
Alexander Canario
# Ian Happ
Seiya Suzuki
* Mike Tauchman 

NRI OUTFIELDERS: 1 
* David Peralta

OPTIONED:
Kevin Alcantara, OF 
Michael Arias, P 
Ben Brown, RHP 
Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF 
Brennen Davis, OF 
Porter Hodge, RHP 
* Matt Mervis, 1B 
Keegan Thompson, P 
Luis Vazquez, INF 

 



Minor League Rosters
Rule 5 Draft 
Minor League Free-Agents

Lou's Six Man Bench

Spring training is nothing if not repetitive story lines, but Cubs manager Lou Piniella is once again hinting that he'd like to carry 14 position players and 11 pitchers.

Piniella admitted he doesn't have a set number of days off for players. That won't be an issue until the regular season starts. Right now, the Cubs have other matters to resolve. While thinking out loud, Piniella said he'd like to carry 14 position players and 11 pitchers if possible. The team isn't sure how to slot some players -- newcomer Aaron Miles, for example. Piniella wants to see them on the field, and the Cubs will have 39 spring games to evaluate the team.

It's not going to happen, it never does...but that won't stop me from taking a look at what the team might look like. And it's exponentially more interesting than where Alfonso Soriano might bat this year (hint: leadoff).

* indicates a lefty
# indicates a switch-hitter
↑ indicates out of options

Starters

C - Geovany Soto
1B - Derrek Lee
2B - *Mike Fontenot
3B - Aramis Ramirez
SS - Ryan Theriot
LF - Alfonso Soriano
CF - *Kosuke Fukudome
RF - #Milton Bradley

Bench

C - *Paul Bako
OF - Reed Johnson
OF - *Joey Gathright
INF - #Aaron Miles
INF - Luis Rivas
INF/OF - *Micah Hoffpauir

Starting Pitching

#1 - Carlos Zambrano
#2 - Ryan Dempster
#3 - *Ted Lilly
#4 - Rich Harden
#5 - Aaron Heilman

Bullpen

#1 (Closer) - Carlos Marmol
#2 (Set-Up) - Kevin Gregg
#3 - Luis Vizcaino
#4 - *Neal Cotts
#5 - Chad Gaudin
#6 - Angel Guzman

I ignored the players with six or more years of service time regarding their options as that is inferred. But barring a trade or some cuts, that would leave Sean Marshall off the team and you can see why it would never happen.

Now, if by some miracle it does happen, I think Rivas has the upper hand for the fabled 6th bench player because this flexibility thing has clearly jumped the shark and he's got that mystical veteran presence.  But there are other options, now available in a tidy table form. The Cubs do have an extra 40-man roster spot, so it won't be an issue to add an NRI to the team.

Player Position Bats Age
2009 Predicted CHONE wRAA
Jason Dubois
OF/1B
R
30
4.3
So Taguchi
OF
R
35
-8.4
Koyie Hill
C
B
30
-9.7
Doug Deeds
OF/1B
L 28
0.1
Richie Robnett OF
L
25
-25.3
Brad Snyder OF
L
27
-14.8
Sam Fuld
OF
L
27
 -5.14
Jake Fox
OF/1B
R
26 0.3
Bobby Scales 
INF B
31
 3.9
Luis Rivas
INF
R
29
 -11.1
Andres Blanco
INF
B
25
-12.3

I'm using wRAA(weighted Runs Above Average) which is based off of wOBA (weighted On-Base Average) as they normalize it for the minor leagues. Here's the brief explanation of wOBA and save me the, "this is a BS stat" complaining. I'm not saying it's the end all, be all, but it tells us what we need to know here about their predicted offensive output. 

Do we really need another statistic? Yes, we do. Instead of trying to take two statistics (OBP, SLG) and combine and correct their flaws in the hopes of getting one number, we prefer to start from scratch. Furthermore, by recasting the number onto the OBP scale, it makes it much easier for the reader to get a grasp on the number. wOBA is weighted on-base average (we call it an average rather than a percentage). When you look at wOBA numbers throughout the book, just think OBP, and you’ll be fine. In other words, an average hitter is around 0.340 or so, a great hitter is 0.400 or higher, and a poor hitter would be under 0.300. 

Then they just take the woBA and translate it to a runs value to make it even easier to understand (all this is available on their Fangraphs page). It's a projection anyway and a lot of it is based off minor league numbers and limited major league playing time, so don't get too caught up about it. Plus any player that sneaks on to the Cubs bench in 2009 will do so almost solely on their spring training performance. What we do know is that So Taguchi isn't very good at hitting a baseball and Richie Robnett had a terrible 2008 season.

Now, if by some miracle Lou manages to make this six man bench work, I have to admit I dream of a Jason Dubois/Micah Hoffpauir lefty-righty combo coming off the bench. It would be a healthy bit of power late in the game to pinch-hit for the quartet of scrap and pitchers that might be in the lineup. Of course, it's also a healthy dose of strikeouts and marginal defense at best. You should also remember that Brad Snyder is out of options, a player the Cubs picked off waivers late last year from the Cleveland Indians. For whatever reason - as Arizona Phil has explained - the Cubs didn't immediately place him right back on waivers since they had the last claim and if he made it through to them the first time, he would have likely gone through the second time. So if he does have a good spring training and the team can't find a spot for him, they'll have to DFA him and this time someone will likely grab them for themselves.

I've always been a fan of the six-man bench over carrying 12 pitchers, but the 12 pitchers has become standard operating procedure by now and when you're afraid to use a relief pitcher for more than an inning, it's understandable why. One excessive extra inning game and your bullpen is taxed for two to three days.  The only way I could see a six-man bench working is if the Cubs go with a four-man rotation early and put Rich Harden or another starter on the disabled list coming out of camp. And I guess that's as likely as Jason Dubois ever seeing the majors again.


UPDATE: I forgot about Jake Fox in my original post, but he might be an even better bet than Dubois. He's even trying out third base in camp according to Wittenmyer.

 

Comments

Muskat has a blog now where you can learn... Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot are very good friends, but maybe not as much after Christmas. Fontenot gave Theriot's kids a trampoline. They had to build it in the garage because it was raining at the time and the parents were a little concerned about the kids falling off onto the cement floor. Theriot said when Fontenot has kids, he'll give them a set of steak knives.. well probably has had it for awhile, but I think MLB.com is pushing it now. http://muskat.mlblogs.com/

[ ]

In reply to by Mister Whipple

Individual games will be available for CBOE again. Book it. The "season ticket" CBOE seats, I have no idea if they gave last year winners the option to re-up or not. I have not read or heard anything, so my guess is they did.

Piniella placed former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija sixth overall right now on the depth chart for the rotation. Sean Marshall is a the top contender for the fifth spot in a starting staff featuring Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden. Samardzija could move up, he could stay in the Cubs' bullpen where he pitched well last season or go to the minors and get in work as a potential member of the rotation. ... Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles will compete to be the starting second baseman, but both are going to be busy this season, regardless of who wins the job. Miles will likely be Ryan Theriot's backup at shortstop and Fontenot could spell Aramis Ramirez at third. Piniella said he'd like Fontenot and Miles to get 400 at-bats apiece. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/2009-02-18-1455233653_x.htm

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

1- heilman is already pecked down to 7th and not worth a mention? 2- yeah, miles is no cannon arm...but fontenot's arm at 3rd? really, now? ...really. at least he can field/throw righty, but that's about all that's going for him at 3rd.

[ ]

In reply to by crunch

I think it's worth saying that most of the time the 3B to 1B throw is easier than SS to 1B. Except for those plays in foul territory.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

If Miles and Fontenot are going to get roughly the same number of ABs this year, and one of them is going to be the starting shortstop, the other moving around the diamond, I think it's pretty clear that Fontenot should consistently play 2nd and Miles should be the rover--he's done it a lot in the past. Don't mess with Fontenot. Just put him at 2nd where he can focus on fielding one position and hitting and won't have to worry about playing SS or 3B or any outfield.

Hell, we practically went with 11 pitchers the entirety of Scott Eyre's 2008 tenure, anyway.

based on things said i wouldn't be too fast to pencil in Fontegod as a starter... and what kind of crack ass stat says J.Dubois is a major league positive production player? maybe he'll get 40 homers to pad out the 300Ks if he plays full time? geez...

Jason Dubois cannot be a major league hitter. I know this because crunch and Rob G. told me so.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

you should know it because jason dubois showed you so. if you wanna actually do your own research instead of listening to 2 dumbasses like me and rob you might want to. but what do i know? god knows ive never said anything about dubois that's been right or that i've watched him since he was a AA'r. i'm sure you got some gem of information on the 30 year old that hasn't found its way to the surface, though. btw, rob's reply said a lot about how dubois got his "unusual" stat and was...what's it called...oh yeah, useful as hell.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

set up some parameters and I'll see if I can find some...

OPS over something in Triple A with a minimun number of PA's or whatever constitutes kicking the crap out Triple A pitching...

and then what counts as "they can hit big league pitching" since I assume you'll scream they weren't given a chance....

[ ]

In reply to by WISCGRAD

Both of those numbers are hitting big league pitching. Garcia once hit .297 .314 .574 over 210 PA's, then followed it up the next year hitting .262 .302 .422 over 262 PA's. Ramon Castro had a 105 OPS+ his age 26 season. Next?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

I have to admit I'm confused, I'll need big words and some drawings.

You picked a baseline of 80 OPS+. BR showed only 253 instances that had an OPS+ of 80 or less from 2000-2008 with at least 400 PA's, 1620 instances of 81 or higher.

that gets me 13.5% that "cannot hit major league pitching"....I assume this 80 OPS+ was a approximation of replacement level, eccept that replacement level players usually don't get 400 or more chances to be that bad.

If you take out catchers and shortstops you get 148 instances of 80 and under, 1332 of 81 and over (Drops to about 10% that "cannot hit major league hitting"), but leave them in if you want to...

I quickly scanned the top 5 OPS guys in the PCL from 2000 to 2008 (btw Dubois doesn't qualify in there, nor Choi). I found a handful that were below 80 OPS+ in the seasons following their appearance on the leaderboard, but none that ever reached 400 PA's (Roosevelt Brown would be one). I find your criteria rather suspicious, a player isn't going to keep getting PA's if they just keep looking silly out there.

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

Interesting discussion, but you guys are leaving out the small matter of baseball being a two-way game. Let's stipulate that Dubois can produce in the majors like the average number five or six hitter. He still wouldn't have a major-league career because he's so limited defensively. I look at NL first basemen who are righty hitters and defensively challenged and I don't see a single one. The only righty first basemen last year were Lee and Pujols. Lee has been a gold glover and Pujols is decent, though in his case it wouldn't matter. The rest were lefty or switch: Berkman, Teixeira, Fielder, Votto, Delgado, Gonzalez, LaRoche, Howard, Loney, Jacobs. Aurilia played a lot of first last year but he is versatile defensively and has never made his living as a first baseman. Dubois never had a chance. If he were lefty, he might have had a slight chance to turn into someone like Daryle Ward, although Ward played more games in the outfield than at first. The Cubs used to draft people like Dubois and Dopirak and Brandon Sing. Thankfully, they don't do it any longer, because it's a waste of time.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

That's very Dusty Bakerish of you. These guys need to have time to adjust to major league pitching. My criteria of 400 PA's in a year, can go over two seasons, as long as it is in a year. The point is, if a guy crushes AAA pitching, he's going to be able to hit ML pitching. He may have to make an adjustment or two, and pitchers will adjust to them, but this whole 'well he had 50 PA's, therefore he's never going to hit' is just bullshit. That's the 400 PA's. To give them time to adjust to ML pitching, give ML pitching time to adjust to them, and then see what happens. Those things don't happen in 100 PA's, no matter what you, Dusty and Lou think. 80 OPS+ was just arbitrary, but would have said going into 2008 that Ryan Theriot could not hit ML pitching?

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

My BR says Roosevelt Brown had two 'seasons' in MLB with an OPS+ over 115. What's yours say? Then he had his 'big chance' which consisted of 3 weeks as starter then being sent to the bench for the rest of the year accumilating 231 PA's in 111 games.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

what a confusing level you've set...

190 PA's over 2 seasons means something for Roosevelt Brown, but if a player doesn't get 400 PA's over a year he doesn't count...

I was using Brown's top 5 in the PCL OPS season and the subsequent 2002 major league season...

also there's a difference between what's acceptable for a shortstop and a catcher to hit versus an outfielder...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

And your criteria is differnt how? If he can't hit in his first 100 PA's, then the MLB pitchers are exposing his non-correctable weakness. If he hits well, and then struggles, well... then the MLB pitchers are finding the weakness that the AAA scouts couldn't find. If he's Cecil Fielder or Carlos Pena... then well, yeah all those scouts were wrong, but they should have known better, you certainly would have. Probably 90% of the hitters in MLB history are going to have a stretch where they bat .200 over 200 at bats. It doesn't mean that they cannot hit MLB pitching any more than it meant Brown was an All-Star candidate when he slugged .520 over 175 at bats. High strikeout - high power guys are generally going to take longer to hit in the bigs than the Paul Molitors and Ryan Theriots of the world. If that's your point, I'll conceed it.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

80 OPS+ was just arbitrary, but would have said going into 2008 that Ryan Theriot could not hit ML pitching?

I would say that there's a different level of what's acceptable for hitting major league pitching for catchers and shortstops versus the other 5 positions.

The point is, if a guy crushes AAA pitching, he's going to be able to hit ML pitching. He may have to make an adjustment or two, and pitchers will adjust to them, but this whole 'well he had 50 PA's, therefore he's never going to hit' is just bullshit. That's the 400 PA's. To give them time to adjust to ML pitching, give ML pitching time to adjust to them, and then see what happens. Those things don't happen in 100 PA's, no matter what you, Dusty and Lou think.

some people - they're called coaches ans scouts and they are employed by professional baseball teams - can sometimes tell that a player has weaknesses in their swing that will be exposed by better pitchers and better advanced scouting and realize that giving someone another 350 PA's isn't going to change anything until they fix that weakness. 

Sometimes those coaches and scouts are rights, sometime they're wrong. Sometimes stat folks think a guy will hit major league pitching just based off their Tripe A numbers, sometimes they're wrong, sometimes they're right.

we'll agree to disagree, I think your criteria of hitting major league pitching is absurd so this is a pointless exercise anyway.

I look forward to your belligerent reply...

 

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I think you establishing that 13.5% of major league hitters cannot hit major league pitching is almost as absurd as comparing DuBois to and casting Berg in a favorable light. Then you bring up defense and then belittle VA Phil for bringing defense into the dicussion. So, first you flip your opinion on a player (DuBois) from one day to the next, and then you bring defense into the argument, and condescend to VA Phil because he had the audacity to talk about defense. Very mature, very consistent.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

this whole conversation is retarded. dubois's issues are his and no numbers in the past will help his swing. he has done *NOTHING* differently since he left the cubs and is doing nothing differently since he came back. dward at least has an idea of what he CANT hit and doesn't swing at it..dubois doesn't even see the ball well unless it's a high-80s/low-90s fastball. he has an amazing power swing and nothing to pad it with.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

you know when Neal calls out your maturity and consistency, it's time to go do some serious soul-searching..

I think you establishing that 13.5% of major league hitters cannot hit major league pitching is almost as absurd

you set that line, not me...

So, first you flip your opinion on a player (DuBois) from one day to the next

If you mean from 2005, then guilty as charged, I thought Dubois deserved a shot and was going to be better than he was. As from one day to the next, my position has remained unchanged. I think Dubois has power and would look okay versus lefties off the bench. I wouldn't given many opportunties besides that, unless someone tells me he's really changed his swing since 2005. But generally I'm all for young prospects getting somewhere around 400 PA's to see what they can do, but the older they get, the less chances they deserve.

 Then you bring up defense and then belittle VA Phil for bringing defense into the dicussion.

I never brought up Dubious' defense, only that you may want to consider an adjustment, particularly for catchers and shortstops. I also said leave them in if you wish. On other hand, you getting offended that I belittled VA Phil (and apologies to you VA Phil if you felt that way) is the hands down winner for the pot calling the kettle black in the history of TCR.

 

[ ]

In reply to by CPH2133

Felix Pie's OPS's in AAA 2006 .792 2007 .981 2008 .820 Based on the .981 you could certainly call that a dominating period. But lets throw a couple of extra stats in there. Year OPS AB's BABIP 2006 .792 556 .342 2007 .981 221 .415 2008 .820 339 .321 Hitting (particuarly line drives) and BABIP aren't independent, and Felix hit his most line drives during his stint in Iowa for 2007 (but at a lower rate than he has in the majors), but if you take out 'luck' he's actually gotten better every year. If he had the same BABIP in the majors that he had in Iowa in 2007 then his career line would be: .308 BA and .369 OBP. Would you consider that good enough? He also hit .300 .391 .450 after his Setepember call up last year, but again that's got some BABIP luck in there.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

nothing like a straw man argument...

I don't think he'd be much of one if he saw regular playing time. But give 200 AB's just versus lefties, never put him out in the field and he'd probably look pretty good. Of course, Craig Wilson could never stick as a right-handed pinch hitting option, I doubt Dubois will.

[ ]

In reply to by The Real Neal

Pet peeve... When someone disagrees with an opinion, they act like a douche and make snide remarks instead of saying that they disagree. I think most do this because it's easier than a substantiative dissenting opinion. I'm not of the opinion Dubois will be much help, only because he hasn't proven consistent production at the big league level. I think a team like the Chicago Cubs with well over a $100/mn payroll shouldn't take chances on "less than b-list" players.

[ ]

In reply to by billybucks

I love Ken Griffey jr..also Gary Matthews jr.....also desi arnaz jr, and any other junior.... Time to drop that billy. Even if it's wrong, in this country, if you ask about Ken Griffey...you will get a Griffey jr. comment.

So on the days the Cubs face a lefty SP and Johnson starts in CF and Miles at 2B, as the roster would stand now there would be no right handed hitter on the bench. Ignoring the remaining FAs like Hudson, O.Cabrera and Crede that will likely get a starting job that pretty much just leaves Nomar and Damion Easley for right handed hitters who can play some INF though Easley is a poor defender at 2B let alone being the answer as Aramis' replacement should he go down at 3B. Hate to say it but the Cubs need Nomah.

[ ]

In reply to by dB

I believe Ray Durham is also available. I think either make sense with a 6-man bench and I also think either makes more sense than Joey Gathright. Some may disagree on the Gathright bit. If the Cubs haven't made an offer yet, I don't know why not. I could certainly see Nomar or Durham not being interested in as limited a role as the Cubs would likely offer, but that shouldn't stop the organization from talking to them.

So, a couple of years ago the Washington Nationals signed this 16 year old high school kid, a second baseman, out of the DR. They gave him a $1.4 million signing bonus and nurtured him for a couple years in the rookie league. Baseball America ranks him their 8th best prospect. Baseball Prospectus has him at #9. Just about everyone has him in the Nationals Top 10. Last year he hit .343 .431 .475 .906 at age 18. His name is Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez. But there's a small problem, his name is actually Carlos David Alvarez Lugo and he's really 23! Of course the Nationals are really pissed.... but you have to wonder just how many more Smiley Gonzalez's are out there. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090219/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_nationals_fake_a…

I know that TCR has their own fantasy keeper league, but since I never think of this during this time of the year, figured I'd throw it out now.... Anyone interested in starting up a keeper league?

I don't believe Theriot started it, but he talked a lot last year about "inning management" from the defensive angle. If I get it, it's like pool (ahem, pocket billiards) where you think 3-4 shots ahead. How many teams are there that make it imperative that Aramis is at 3rd as opposed to Miles? For example, when the killer B's were in their heyday in Houston, you just had to have your best defense out there all the time since they could do a lot with the bat. 1st and 3rd would cheat in. They would and they could test the defense each inning, or at least every two innings. Just a thot...since Nomar probably would be booed before he got on a plane. And is Miles getting the ex-cards factor treatment here just a little? Sorry I have more questions than answers, 'tis the nature of baseball.

Maybe ya'll could start another web site about fantasy baseball. Don't care for it myself and ya'll seem to drift off topic. Please?

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's hard to make the argument that if Hendry had swapped Fuku for Bedard and either traded or released Harden that he wouldn't have had the money to do some other things, not least of which might've been retain Wood, DeRo or make a run at someone else. Maybe that's not the best move, but the point is, the option was there should he have chosen to pursue it. And now everybody has more ammunition against him should the ship hit an iceberg. =)

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

So obviously things look pretty grim as of right now, but I don't quite understand the pessimism toward Harden already. I mean the guy was outstanding with us last year. He's a high risk, I get that. But that's all it is right now, is a risk. The point of a surgery is to increase strength and flexibility. I think he's gotta be considered healthy until proven hurt. In the same sense, I'm prepared to have this post shoved in my face two months from now...

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I wouldn't mind commishing/spearheading the league if there are no other volunteers, but I can't set anything up until tonight. Rob, if you don't mind sharing your points system, that'd be cool. Is there a Web site that's preferential for the keepers formatting?

[ ]

In reply to by John Beasley

We use Yahoo and they have really improved their keeper and league tracking. $125 for the league if you want live scoring. 15-team league comes out to $8.33 a person. We all throw in $30 and divide up the winnings at the end of the year.

I'll email you the files we have and rules and you can go from there and then of course modify anything you want to...

I'll just say that I stole most of it from a STATS league that went away a few years ago (which I think they recently restarted) and it's 100x more satisfying than roto league categories.

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

It's great that Lou says he's sticking with Soriano in leadoff BEFORE the try out during spring training. That's weak sauce.

E-mails have been sent to Q, Little Nate Lewis, kmokeefe, Ryno, Dr. Aaron B, CPH2133 and SJS. Anyone else who wants to play a keeper league, e-mail to [email protected].

[ ]

In reply to by Rob G.

I'd probably flip Bradley and Ramirez because MB has had a significantly higher OBP the last couple of years. 50 points higher last year. 40 points higher in 07. 20 points higher in '06. Think I'd like to see him get on ahead of Ramirez than have it the other way around.

[ ]

In reply to by Wes

was going with the Bradley to bat 4th idea....

probably Lee and Ramirez flip anyway...

my personal vote is

Soriano, Lee, Bradley, Ramirez, Soto, Fontenot, Theriot, Fukudome

until we see what we have for 2009...

Scott Boras Able To Get Manny Ramirez $20 Billion In Economic Stimulus Money <excerpt> WASHINGTON—After a series of closed-door talks, Scott Boras, the agent known for representing the highest-paid players in baseball, set another record for the game's largest contract when he finalized Manny Ramirez's $20 billion agreement with the United States federal government on Thursday. "Manny's .396 batting average last season with the Dodgers, as well as his playoff performance, proved that he is as important to this country as infrastructure projects, health care, and renewable energy development," Boras said...

Recent comments

  • crunch (view)

    SF snags b.snell...2/62m

  • Cubster (view)

    AZ Phil: THAT is an awesome report worth multiple thanks. I’m sure it will be worth reposting in an “I told you so” in about 2-3 years.

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    The actual deadline to select a post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agent signed to 2024 minor league contract (Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta) to the MLB 40-man roster is not MLB Opening Day, it is 12 PM (Eastern) this coming Sunday (3/24). 

    However, the Cubs could notify the player prior to the deadline that the player is not going to get added to the 40 on Sunday, which would allow the player to opt out early. Otherwise the player can opt out anytime after the Sunday deadline (if he was not added to the 40 by that time). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Today is an off day for both the Cubs MLB players and the Cubs minor league players.  

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    For those of you keeping track, so far nine players have been called up to Mesa from the Cubs Dominican Academy for Minor League Camp and they will be playing in the ACL in 2024: 

    * bats or throws left 

    Angel Cepeda, INF 
    * Miguel Cruz, P
    Yidel Diaz, C 
    * Albert Gutierrez, 1B
    Fraiman Marte, P  
    Francis Reynoso, P (ex-1B) 
    Derniche Valdez, INF 
    Edward Vargas, OF 
    Jeral Vizcaino, P 

    And once again, despite what you might read at Baseball Reference and at milb.com, Albert Gutierrez is absolutely positively a left-handed hitter (only), NOT a right-handed hitter.

    Probably not too surprisingly, D. Valdez was the Cubs #1 prospect in the DSL last season, Cepeda was the DSL Cubs best all-around SS prospect not named Derniche Valdez, Gutierrez was the DSL Cubs top power hitting prospect not named Derniche Valdez, E. Vargas was the DSL Cubs top outfield prospect (and Cepeda and E. Vargas were also the DSL Cubs top two hitting prospects), Y. Diaz was the DSL Cubs top catching prospect, and M. Cruz was the DSL Cubs top pitching prospect. 

    F. Marte (ex-STL) and J. Vizcaino (ex-MIL) are older pitchers (both are 22) who were signed by the Cubs after being released by other organizations and then had really good years working out of the bullpen for the Cubs in the DSL last season. 

    The elephant in the room is 21-year old Francis Reynoso, a big dude (6'5) who was a position player (1B) at the Cardinals Dominican Academy for a couple of years, then was released by STL in 2022, and then signed by the Cubs and converted to a RHP at the Cubs Dominican Academy (and he projects as a high-velo "high-leverage" RP in the states). He had a monster year for the DSL Cubs last season (his first year as a pitcher). 

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    DJL: The only players who definitely have opt outs are Cooper, Edwards, and Peralta (Opening Day, 5/1, and 6/1), and that's because they are post-2023 Article XX-B MLB free agents who signed 2024 minor league contracts and (by rule) they get those opt outs automatically. 

    Otherwise, any player signed to a 2024 minor league contract - MIGHT or - MIGHT NOT - have an opt out in their contract, but it is an individual thing, and if there are contractual opt outs the opt out(s) might not necessarily be Opening Day. It could be 5/1, or 6/1, or 7/1 (TBD).

    Because of their extensive pro experience, the players who most-likely have contractual opt outs are Alfaro, Escobar, and D. Smith, but (again), not necessarily Opening Day. 

    Also, just because a player has the right to opt out doesn't mean he will. 

  • Dolorous Jon Lester (view)

    I love the idea that Madrigal heads to Iowa in case Morel can’t handle third.

    The one point that intrigues me here is Cooper over Smith. I feel like the Cubs really like Smith and don’t want to lose him. Could be wrong. He def seems like an opt out if he misses the opening day roster

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    Childersb3: Both Madrigal and Wisdom can be optioned without any restriction. Their consent is not required. 

    They both can be outrighted without restriction, too (presuming the player is not claimed off waivers), but if outrighted they can choose to elect free agency (immediately, or deferred until after the end of the MLB season).

    If the player is outrighted and elects free-agency immediately he forfeits what remains of his salary.

    If he accepts the assignment and defers free agency until after the conclusion of the season, he continues to get his salary, and he could be added back to the 40 anytime prior to becoming a free-agent (club option). 

  • Childersb3 (view)

    Phil, 
    Madrigal and Wisdom can or cannot refuse being optioned to the Minors?
    If they can refuse it, wouldn't they elect to leave the Cubs org?

  • Arizona Phil (view)

    In my opinion, the biggest "affirmative" mistake the Cubs made in the off-season (that is, doing something they should not have done), was blowing $9M in 2024 AAV on Hector Neris. What the Cubs actually need is an alternate closer to be in the pen and available to close if Alzolay pitched the day before (David Robertson would have been perfect), because with his forearm issue last September, I would be VERY wary of over-using Alzolay. I'm not even sure I would pitch him two days in a row!  

    And of course what the Cubs REALLY need is a second TOR SP to pair with Justin Steele. That's where the Cubs are going to need to be willing to package prospects (like the Padres did to acquire Dylan Cease, the Orioles did to acquire Corbin Burnes, and the Dodgers did to acquire Tyler Glasnow). Obviously those ships have sailed, but I would say right now the Cubs need to look very hard at trying to acquire LHSP Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins (and maybe LHP A. J. Puk as well).